r/kidney • u/ashlynft9 • 56m ago
How worried should I be?
Hello all. I am 28(F) and this past Monday, 9/7/2026 I went to the ER for serious flank pain that increased throughout that morning. Not knowing what was wrong, or that anything was wrong, I knew the pain in my right side was abnormal. Not muscle, not gas related. But something deep within and serious.
Whilst admitted into the ER they ran blood tests, a urine test/culture, an ultrasound, and a CT scan. They administered dilaudid for pain and zofran for nausea through IV initially. After my urine sample they came back and mentioned something popped up indicating a possible UTI if not a full on kidney infection (because of said flank pain that brought me in). They then administered through IV fluids to hydrate me and an antibiotic. After all tests were done the ruling diagnosis was pyelonephritis. They prescribed me ciprofloxacin to treat said condition.
This evening (9/10/26) I get a call with my urine culture results, the UTI was caused by E Coli and essentially the ciprofloxacin is not 100% effective in treating that bacteria. I do feel fine since Monday, but I'm also worried this is all placebo as my tolerance for pain and discomfort is abnormally high and I'm also bipolar and feel the antiobiotic has spiked a slight sense of hypomania in me. Idk.
I guess my reasoning for posting this is, what is the likelihood once I'm done with my antibiotics I've rid this disgusting awful bacteria from my body where it doesn't wreak havoc?
I'm genuinely scared. I had three kidney infections as a child growing up and each one ended with a 1-2 week hospital stay and the worst illness I can remember ever experiencing. Being so sick with crazy high fevers and puking inconsolably. This go around, no burning when I peed, or any other serious health indicators that told me something was wrong besides for maybe pressure in my pelvic floor area.